The people of Israel may have doubted God’s plan, or questioned God’s purpose, but God was always working to fulfill his promise.  We see the evidence of God’s sovereignty, his power and control over all things, in Exodus 1-2. These two chapters establish God’s sovereignty as he keeps his promise, preserves his people, and shapes his servant.

Exodus is a familiar story filled with familiar events and characters.  We know about Moses and Pharoah, the plagues and the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the Ten Commandments. But understanding the Exodus, as we will see, is crucial to understanding the rest of the Bible.  What we read about in the Exodus informs the way that we encounter and experience God today.

We have neighbors, friends, and family members who are far from Christ and we know that Jesus has called us to go make disciples. Even so, we may soon find ourselves growing frustrated in our evangelistic endeavors.But what if we began with the end in mind? In Matthew 24, Jesus talks with his disciples about the end times. The return of Christ motivates our mission by infusing it with hope, purpose, and urgency.

It has perhaps never been more vital for Christians to have not only a well-formed theology (Who is God?), but also a well-formed anthropology (What is a human?).  As we study Genesis 1, we'll find answers to questions about the nature and value of humanity. 

Our passage this morning focuses on the church at Antioch. Antioch was a place where something was happening—a place where God was at work.  As we study the accounts of these early believers, we'll see that Antioch offers insight into what a missional church looks like.

Today we'll begin a series entitled Neighbors & Nations.  The greatest problem facing the world today is not poverty, injustice, discrimination, hunger, or war. The greatest problem is lostness.  The solution to this problem is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this passage, Jesus sends out his disciples to share the gospel and meet real needs.  However, before the disciples are sent, they are called to pray.  Why does Jesus emphasize this act before he sends out his disciples? What can we take as we go to our neighbors and the nations with the hope of the gospel?

In this passage, we see two characters, Simeon and Anna, who have been waiting for the Messiah.  God's people wait on mission and rejoice at the coming of Jesus as he redeems them from the law and brings salvation.

In this passage, the angels are sent to announce Jesus' arrival.  Surprisingly, they do not go to the temple, the palace, or Rome, but they appear instead to lowly shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem. What can the angels' announcement to the shepherds and the shepherds' response  teach us about the true message of Christmas?

When we study scripture, we see that the birth of Jesus was long expected, that Old Testament prophecy foretold of the day when a Messiah would be born.  However, when Jesus is born, it happens in the most unexpected way. Everyone experiences the unexpected and the narrative of the birth of Jesus can help us to know how we should respond in these moments of life.

Mary’s song of praise is infused with joy and thanksgiving. But it also operates as a study of the character of God and the gracious ways that he provides for his children.  What can we learn from Mary’s song today? Why do we, like Mary, also have reason to sing songs of praise? How can we apply the truth of this song to our own lives this Christmas?